A government with all this mass of favours to give or to…
“A government with all this mass of favours to give or to withhold, however free in name, wields a power of bribery scarcely surpassed by an avowed autocracy, rendering it master of the elections in almost any circumstances but those of rare and extraordinary public excitement.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage argues that a government, even when nominally free, can wield bribery to dominate elections, effectively becoming an autocracy except during rare public upheavals.
In simple terms: Government can control elections through bribery, acting like a hidden autocracy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden coercion in seemingly free systems.
Themes
politics
corruption
power
elections
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- voting processes
- campaign financing
- public policy
Key Concepts
democracy
authoritarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can prevent covert bribery?
- How does public excitement disrupt entrenched power?
A Different Perspective
Bribery alone may not explain all electoral outcomes.